The meadows faire, where Flora’s gifts among
Are intermixt the verdant grass between,
The silver skaled fish that softly swimme
Within the brookes and cristal wat’ry brimme.”
The Matapedia, or ‘Musical,’ River received its name from the sound made by the wind in the branches of the trees as it courses over and through the numerous ravines. The river rises in Lake Matapedia, and is over sixty miles long. Its principal tributaries are the Causapscal and the Kassimiguagan. It runs a rapid course between two extensive mountain ranges, and terminates in the Restigouche at a point some twenty miles south-west of Matapedia village.
Along the Tobique River are mountains and mountain ranges of great beauty. Bald Head, on the Riley Brook, near the Northern Forks, is nearly 2,300 feet above sea-level. The Blue Mountains of the Tobique Valley are very picturesque—some rise as high as 1,200 feet above the river level. The loftiest heights are attained on the south branch of the Nepisiguit, between Nictor and Nepisiguit Lakes and the eastern branch of the Tobique. Here a height is attained of 2,600 feet above the sea-level. There are several odd-looking mountains on the portage from Nepisiguit River to Upsalquitch Lake, and a good view of the surrounding country is obtained by climbing one of these heights.
The Tobique is considered by many to be the most picturesque stream in all New Brunswick. The fishing is fine and the scenery beautiful. Nictor Lake is well worth the journey necessary to reach it, and the whole trip up and down the river is a unique woodland and water experience. Near the high land separating the Tobique waters from those of the Miramichi and Nepisiguit, the highest lakes of New Brunswick are found, many of them being over 1,200 feet above the level of the sea. The whole province abounds in lakes. Those off the regular travel routes are seldom visited, although they are quite attractive.
The Restigouche has been called the ‘noblest salmon river of the world.’ It is navigable for 130 miles or more above Campbellton. It has bold and rugged shores as well as scenes of softer beauty. The country on both sides of the river is exceedingly grand and impressive. There are huge lofty mountains, often of irregular shape, covered with tall pines and rich hardwood. Its chief tributaries are the Matapedia, the Upsalquitch, the Patapedia, and the Quatawamkedgewick, or ‘Tom Kedgewick.’ The head waiters are within fifteen miles of the St. John, and that river may be reached by canoe with a portage of only three miles along the Grand River connection.
The Meeting of the Waters